About Us

Paula Warford

co-founder

a mother of six, paula graduated with honors from the university of notre dame with a b.a. in pre–professional studies and spanish. she moved to new york city and worked as an analyst with accenture before moving on as a research analyst with the wallace foundation.

as a lifelong runner, paula thought she was in decent shape until she took on the challenge of barre and saw drastic changes in her body after just a few weeks of class. she gained a strength she never thought was in the cards for her, at least not in this lifetime (think: never-before seen quad and ab definition, this after having three children)! almost immediately, she noticed her joint stiffness, courtesy of her lifelong affinity to running, ease and her flexibility increase. she soon became addicted to a different kind of exercise high: the thrill of conquering a challenging thigh series, surprising yourself as you do one more push up on your toes, breathing through the burn a little longer than you did last class, and the blissful satisfaction that you enjoy when you melt into your mat during final stretch and congratulate yourself for being stronger than you were when you started. maybe the biggest surprise of all for paula, though, is the community the barre has become. it is her happy place, her home-away-from-home, and she feels extremely blessed to have the barre in her life.

Rachel Tessalone

co-founder

 

a native of bismarck, nd, rachel graduated from the university of notre dame with a b.a. in finance before fulfilling her dream of moving to new york city to pursue a career in fashion, where she worked in corporate retail.

while living in nyc, rachel was introduced to barre classes by her sister-in-law (& the barre’s co–owner), paula, and was immediately hooked. even though she had been active and an athlete her entire life, she never had seen such direct and immediate results from any form of exercise, and had never been able to push her body to its limits and not sacrifice by having sore joints – only (good) sore muscles! beyond that, the mental strength she gained resonated far beyond studio’s walls and helped her feel empowered, energized and eager to plan her next barre fix.

while rachel never thought she could love barre classes more than when she first “met” them, that passion has only grown in the past decade as she has been able to share the life-changing effects that the barre can have with others – there is no doubt that the barre’s effects definitely go way beyond the physical (which are pretty incredible). the barre becomes a way of life and helps clients feel strong and ready to take on anything life brings their way!  having taught and practiced the barre through both her pregnancies (enjoying class until the day she went into labor both times!), rachel is the biggest advocate for how amazing the barre can be for mamas-to-be; she was able to feel strong, toned & empowered through her pregnancies, and is now her strongest self yet after having 2 kids! rachel lives in wayzata with her husband, nick, their daughters and their pug, duncan.

Rachael Sandven

Studio manager

rachael was born and raised in western minnesota and has stayed in her home state all of her life! she attended concordia college in moorhead, mn, where she received a b.a. in business management. rachael has always been active and involved in sports, and was originally introduced to the barre by a friend – she loved it immediately as something that worked and focused on your muscles in a whole new way that she had not experienced before. she finds “the shakes” very addicting, and loves that you know your muscles are being worked to the maximum, and that you can actually see and feel your body transforming! beyond the workout, rachael loves all the inspiring women she gets to meet and work with on a daily basis, making the community of the barre such an amazing thing to be part of. In her free time, rachael enjoys traveling with her husband and sons, playing board games and reading with her children, and spending time with her family and friends.

Kristen Steensland

Content
developer

Master
trainer

 

after growing up in northern california, kristen moved to minnesota as a teenager and has lived here ever since. kristen attended saint mary’s university, where she played varsity soccer and graduated with a b.a. in public relations. after working in sales for 4 years, she took time off to have a family – and that has been her ‘full time’ position ever since.

kristen was first introduced to barre classes on a yearly visit back to california and was immediately hooked: she felt like she had finally found exactly what she had been looking for in a workout and was thrilled when a studio opened in wayzata! the barre was the first workout she found that completely worked all her major muscles groups in one session, got her heart rate going, and left her overall body feeling great – after years of stress on her joints from playing sports, her body feels better and stronger than it ever has!

kristen resides in eden prairie with her husband matt, 3 kids, and dog, lewie.

Stacy Sapletal

stacy first fell in love with the barre when she walked in our door on opening day. immediately she knew she had found a workout like no other! after a few months of classes and a new found passion, she decided she would love to share her love for the barre by accepting a spot in our first training class. stacy was desperately missed when moving to california with her family for 2 ½ years and we are delighted that she has come back to teaching at her favorite barre studio in the state that she calls “home”!

stacy currently resides in minnetonka where she lives with her husband, her youngest daughter and 3 dogs. she also has two older daughters, one, a student at the university of minnesota and one college graduate living in southern california. when stacy is not getting her barre on, she enjoys subbing at orono high school, traveling, shopping and spending time with family and friends.

Mary Cummins

born and raised in minnesota, mary has stayed close to her midwestern roots. she attended college at the university of notre dame and earned a degree in classics (ancient greek and latin) and pre-professional studies. while in college, she took advantage of the wide variety of fitness classes on offer and eventually settled on a beginning ballet class as the ultimate stress reliever and bucket list activity.

after graduating, mary missed her beginning ballet class and began searching for something to fill the void. it was during this search that she stumbled upon the barre. while the first class wasn’t at all what she expected, she soon fell in love with the classes and was spreading that love to anyone who would listen. mary is excited to now be sharing this love in a teaching role!

when mary isn’t teaching at the barre, she works for an eLearning company and spends her free time enjoying her family’s company, undertaking extravagant baking projects, and knitting.

Robyn Stimac

a native of milwaukee, robyn attended the university of wi-madison and graduated with a double major in behavioral science & law and french.  upon graduation, robyn moved to new york city to pursue a career in the music business where she worked as a promotion manager at sony music for 20 years.  she moved to minneapolis in 2015, fell in love with the city, and decided to make it her forever home.  in 2021, robyn was ready for a career change and decided to venture into the world of real estate.  she joined the jason schmidt group at edina realty and has been serving as both transaction coordinator and realtor ever since.

robyn fell in love with barre after taking her first class in 2007 in san francisco. she was hooked from day one and continued her barre classes, even as she moved all over the country, and finally found the barre when she settled in minneapolis.  the way the barre sculpts and firms your body and the way that it makes you feel mentally when you are finished is an addiction that she plans to continue with always. she found it to be the best complement to her running and yoga regiment, but now puts barre at the center of her entire workout routine, and in fact, everything that she does.

in her free time, robyn likes to run and bike on minneapolis’ great trailways, refine her yoga practice, hang out with friends and family, go camping, attend live music events, discover new restaurants, and travel.  she lives in minnetonka with her husband, mike, and step-children, quinn and lilly.

Kailey Mauser

born and raised in minnesota, kailey attended the university of minnesota earning a b.a. in communications. after college, kailey lived in south minneapolis with her best friend while starting her career at a healthcare company, working in sourcing & procurement. while living in south minneapolis and driving through 50th & france on a daily basis, kailey noticed the barre’s edina location opening up and was eager to try it out. after taking classes for 3 years, she decided it was time to spread her love for the barre by getting in front of the studio as an instructor!

outside of her full-time job and shaking at the barre, kailey is a food & wine enthusiast, an HGTV addict, loves minnesota summers and  spending time with friends & family.

kailey just purchased her first home in st. louis park with her boyfriend, and is excited to renovate, design, and decorate! she is even more excited to finally have a yard for her french bulldog, louie.

Nicholle Parrish

as a life long classical ballet dancer as well as a former Minnesota Vikings cheerleader, it was easy for nicholle to fall in love with the barre’s workouts. the classes appeal to both her dancer side and athletic side – all rolled up into one top notch workout!  fitness and health have always been priorities for nicholle and she is thrilled to now add barre instructor to her resumé!  her favorite thing about teaching is being a positive influence and inspiration to others, and her favorite thing about our classes are that they are always challenging – both physically and mentally!

although nicholle has had experiences living all across the country, she is a minnesota girl through and through 😉  born and raised here, nicholle attended the university of minnesota (go Gophers!) where she graduated with a degree in broadcast journalism. when she’s not getting her barre shakes on or having fun planning her next class, you can find nicholle whipping up her next culinary masterpiece in her kitchen!  a self-proclaimed foodie, nicholle finds nothing more enjoyable than being surrounded by good food, good wine and great friends and family.

nicholle resides in orono with her husband mark, two children and one adorable wiener dog named guinness.

The_Barre_Wayzata_2022_Tiffany_Kokal_Photography-191 copy
Lindsey Sullivan

lindsey has lived in minnesota her whole life. she grew up in littlefork, a small town located by the canadian border and attended college at bemidji state university.  lindsey was a pitcher for the beavers while earning her degree in elementary education. after teaching on the iron range and obtaining her master’s degree, she moved to the cities and has been teaching 5th grade in the wayzata school district ever since. 

being an athlete her whole life, whether playing or coaching,  she was searching for a way to continue being active in the twin cities area. she tried the barre during the first month she moved and fell in love after discovering the shakes in her first class. lindsey loves that the workout challenges not only every muscle in your body but also your mind. 

she resides in wayzata. when she isn’t teaching (children or adults) she loves baking, cooking and working on house projects with her husband. however, the amount has dramatically decreased with the arrival of their son.

Bridget Taylor

bridget is originally from minnesota and had lived here all her life until she joined the Marine Corps, which allowed her to be able to travel across the country and the globe. after serving 21 years on active duty, she retired as a Gunnery Sergeant and thought of no better place to raise her family than minnesota.
after all those years of wear and tear on her body in combat boots, she wanted to continue to maintain her strength without further injuries. little did she know in her first barre class years ago that wearing socks to train was not only going to give her the best workouts of her life but also strengthen and tone without injury! she had no idea what to expect as she showed up in sweatpants and could hardly touch her shins, let alone her toes! what barre has given her over the years was the motivation to be able to sustain and actually look forward to a workout regime because it was pleasurable! she found herself looking forward to “her time” at the barre, not only because she was gaining strength and flexibility, but also because she felt like a part of a community that is so encouraging and uplifting. to her, that is the hat trick of maintaining overall good physical health.
she currently works full time at Providence Academy, has three children, a boxer named Roxy and a cat. when she’s not at the barre or work, she likes to glamp and enjoys food other people cook.

Jenny Wocken

jenny moved to minnesota from wisconsin to attend the university of minnesota. while obtaining a degree in public health, communication studies and applied business, she also completed a group fitness instructor certification program. being an athlete all of her life, mainly figure skating, jenny was looking for her next commitment to staying active and healthy.

she was first introduced to the barre from her college girlfriend and fellow instructor, jaclyn hutchins. after her first class and a tremendous amount of shaking, she was instantly hooked. a few months of classes was all it took for her to know she wanted to become an instructor. jenny’s boyfriend (now husband) and jaclyn encouraged her to take her group fitness background and apply it to the new passion she had for the amazing barre studio.

the low-impact, killer workout at the barre allows jenny to stay committed to a healthy lifestyle while helping the participants in class achieve their health and fitness goals! when jenny is not pulsing at the barre, she works at a specialty pharmacy as an implementation manager. during her free time, she enjoys fashion, food, outdoor activities and spending time with friends and family.

Kadee Watkins

born and raised in minnesota, kadee obtained her first degree at the university of mn, where she was also a hockey cheerleader.  she obtained her second degree in physician assisant studies from the UW-LaCrosse – gundersen – mayo physician assistant program.  she then went on and obtained her masters in physician assistant studies with specialization in gastroenterology and hepatology from the university of nebraska medical center.  after practicing medicine with a twin cities healthcare group, she made the choice to stay home with her four children.

kadee’s always had a love for fitness and first tried the barre when she was pregnant with her third child.  She was excited to find a low-impact work out, but was surprised by how much both total body and mental strength she gained and has been a fan of the barre ever since!  she is thrilled to have the opportunity to share her love of the barre as an instructor!

when she’s not at the barre sweating and getting her shakes on, kadee loves spending time with her family, running and planning her family’s next adventure.

Marlene Straszewski

although she’s lived in a number of different states and countries, marlene considers minnesota her home.  born and raised in central minnesota, marlene was involved in gymnastics and track and has continued her love of staying active and exercise throughout her adult life.

marlene has a masters in international management from the university of st. thomas and has spent her career in consumer insights at a local consumer packaged goods company.  she loves working with teams to develop winning business strategies and to inspire people to accomplish their goals.

as a wayzata resident, marlene walked by the studio many times and was curious to know what barre was all about.  a brief chat with an instructor at a wayzata festival booth was enough encouragement to give it a try.  she was instantly hooked by the challenging, low impact workout and noticed meaningful results within just a couple of weeks, not only physical but mental as well.  she’s been attending class faithfully ever since.  she loves that it’s always challenging and never feels routine – no two classes are the same.

in addition to the barre, marlene’s passions include her family, baking, and travel.  she lives in wayzata with her husband, two sons, and cuddly boston terrier.

Erin Hammer

a lifelong minnesota native, erin earned her bachelor’s degree in community health and biology at st. cloud state university and her master’s in healthcare administration at saint mary’s university of minnesota. growing up, erin was heavily involved in soccer and has always been a consistently active runner.  erin was first introduced to the barre through social media and was drawn to take on the challenge of the total body workout. after taking several classes and embracing the first barre challenge, she was hooked on the quick results she was seeing from the barre shakes inside and out.

not only has barre introduced new muscle groups to erin, it has also enhanced her running, soccer and tennis playing abilities. outside of the barre & full-time job as a healthcare project manager, erin resides in the plymouth area with her boyfriend and their dog (louie) and cat (iver).  erin loves to hang out with friends and family during her free time, enjoy the occasional happy-hour and is an avid shoe-buyer. she is thrilled to continue her barre journey as an instructor and can’t wait to see the positive impact the barre has on others.

Kalli Taylor

a midwestern girl at heart, kalli never strayed too far from her minnesota roots. After earning a b.a. in biology and playing soccer for luther college, kalli gracefully transitioned into four more years of pharmacy school at the university of iowa. an avid athlete her entire life, kalli was eager to discover a new activity that would both challenge and balance her busy lifestyle. kalli was introduced to pilates and barre classes in iowa city and was immediately hooked.

during a break from school, kalli tested out several barre classes in minnesota, and was drawn to the barre‘s passionate instructors and intense workout experience–she found her new “home.” eager to take her passion to a new level, she decided teaching was an exciting new challenge she wanted to pursue, and an opportunity to share her love of barre with others.

with new roots built in chanhassen, kalli works as a pharmacist in the west suburbs. when she isn’t busy in the pharmacy or getting her barre shakes on, kalli enjoys running, curling up on the couch with a book and her kitty, charlie, or heading up north to the cabin to relax.

emilyPS
Emily Cummins

born & raised in minnesota, emily stayed close to her midwestern roots and attended the university of notre dame (go irish!). she was first introduced to the barre by her sister mary while home for fall break her freshman year. while she was always incredibly sore the day after class, she kept coming back for more every time she was home. after graduating from notre dame with a degree in marketing she joined a digital marketing agency in minneapolis where she specialized in social media advertising. having moved to a new company to focus on marketing more broadly, she jumped at the opportunity to keep her social media skills sharp and join an amazing team by spearheading the barre’s social media efforts.

when she is not creating social posts & marketing plans, emily enjoys reading, playing wordscapes, drinking iced coffee, and, of course, taking classes at the barre.

a native of milwaukee, wisconsin, robyn attended the university of wi-madison and graduated with a double major in behavioral science & law and french.  upon graduation, robyn moved to new york city to pursue a career in the music business where she began a career in promotion at sony music.  she has lived in new york city, charlotte, san francisco, chicago, and moved to minneapolis in 2015 where she currently works full time for rca records. 

robyn fell in love with barre after taking her first class in 2007 in san francisco.  she was hooked from day one and continued her barre classes, even as she moved all over the country, and finally found the barre when she settled in minneapolis. the way the barre continues to work your entire body every day and in new ways; sculpting and firming; and the way that it makes you feel so amazing mentally when you are finished is an addiction that she plans to continue with always.  she found it to be the best complement to her running and yoga regiment, but now puts barre at the center of her entire workout routine, and in fact, everything that she does.

in her free time, robyn likes to run and bike on minneapolis’ great trail ways, refine her yoga practice, hang out with friends and family, go camping, attend live music events, discover new restaurants, and travel.  she lives in minnetonka with her husband, mike, two step-children, quinn and lilly, and her beloved cat, charlotte.